Numerical Simulation of Mid-Infrared Optical Frequency Comb Generation in Chalcogenide As2S3 Microbubble Resonators

Abstract

Mid-infrared optical frequency comb generation in whispering gallery mode microresonators attracts significant interest. Chalcogenide glass microresonators are good candidates for operating in the mid-infrared range. We present the first theoretical analysis of optical frequency comb generation in As2S3 microbubble resonators in the 3–4 μm range. The regime of dissipative soliton plus dispersive wave generation is simulated numerically in the frame of the Lugiato–Lefever equation. Using microbubble geometry allows controlling of the zero-dispersion wavelength and the obtaining of anomalous dispersion needed for soliton generation at the pump wavelength of 3.5 μm, whereas the zero-dispersion wavelength of the analyzed As2S3 glass is ~4.8 μm. It is shown that, for the optimized characteristics of microbubble resonators, optical frequency combs with a spectral width of more than 700 nm (at the level of −30 dB) can be obtained with the low pump power of 10 mW.